There’s plenty to love about the Lehigh Valley, but so many of its amenities remain unknown. Until now. We’re spilling the beans on more than 50 of the region’s best-kept secrets, including where to go, how to order, where to stay, what to ask, where to sit and much, much more. Here’s everything you never knew you needed to know!
Photo by Donovan Roberts Witmer
Speakeasy
Discover secret cocktails, punch bowls and passwords at the Bookstore in Bethlehem.
A Healthy Substitute
Want the taco without the shell? Next time you’re at Torre Restaurant, ask your server to swap the tortilla for a crispy lettuce wrap. It’s not on the menu, but they’ll happily oblige.
Fill Your Cup
Go crazy with toppings at YoGo Factory at the Promenade—you’re not going to be charged for the extra weight. YoGo has a fixed price per cup, so take advantage and don’t skimp!
House Game
The name of the game is Bones, and all you have to do is ask your Porter’s Pub bartender for dice and the rules. The winner buys a round of drinks. Mark your calendar for their Cinco de Mayo tournament.
Underground Art Gallery
Enjoy secluded, private dining, surrounded by local art, beneath 3rd and Ferry Fish Market. The room comfortably accommodates 35 people, is handicap accessible and is filled with new art every six to eight weeks.
End-of-Season Sale
Steal designer finds for almost nothing at BOUTIQUETOGO’s end-of-season sale. (Can you say Rebecca Minkoff?)
Photo by Jumping Rocks Photography
The Conservatory
Book a staycation in the most unique room in the sayre Mansion. The Conservatory offers a 180-degree bird’s-eye view of Bethlehem as the rooftop refuge fills the room with light and tree-lined views.
VIP Poker
Enjoy a free night of poker every Wednesday and Saturday at LaPazza bar in Easton at 7 and 9 p.m. Earn enough points and you could be eligible for the game at the end of the month!
Cold Brew
Fieldstone Coffee Roasters, Inc., at the Easton Public Market has a one-of-a-kind iced coffee bar offering four to five different coffees on tap—try their Nitro Cold Brew or their Nitro Tea!
The Original Downtown
Bay Leaf Restaurant on Hamilton Street in Allentown has been there since before downtown dining was cool. They rely on word of mouth, so don’t tell too many of your friends or you’ll never get a reservation.
The Ladies Room
Lehigh Country Club is home to, hands down, the most beautiful restroom you’ll ever visit. Cool lavender walls, mirrors and marble everywhere—the ladies who lunch are the luckiest women we know. Not a member? Buy a ticket to one of the many charity events held at the Club and check it out. (Sorry, gentlemen, you’re not allowed.)
A Secret View
Enjoy this short, quick hike tucked away in Forks Township and find yourself on a cliff overlooking the Delaware River. Search Gollub Park on Facebook and you’ll see this same breathtaking view over and over.
Secret Menu
Those who follow the Hummus House on social media can find the restaurant’s secret menu posted online every Tuesday. What’s offered varies depending on what’s available at the farmers’ market that week.
$5 Movie Special
See the latest box-office hit at AMC Center Valley 16 at the Promenade, where they have $5 showings every Tuesday. Sign up at amcstubs.com.
Underground Bathrooms
Okay, so you can’t access them anymore, but the doors to the underground bathrooms (that existed in the ‘20s) are still visible in Easton.
Lehigh Lookout
Watch fireworks on holidays and see all of Bethlehem. Lookout Drive leads the way!
Hole in the Wall
The Vineyard Restaurant in Bethlehem allegedly serves the best Italian of all time.
The Best Cut
Unlike most restaurants, Point Phillips Hotel uses only whole “packer” briskets, which consist of the “flat” and the “point.” The flat is served in platters and on sandwiches, but the point turns into their famous burnt ends. Cut into chunks, rolled in a rub of spices, coated in homemade barbecue sauce and returned to the smoker, they become extra juicy and flavorful. The restaurant can only offer as many burnt ends dinners as points smoked that week. They’re a Thursday evening special that usually sell out that night, but sometimes early birds can still find them on Friday.
Secret Cellar
Want to impress up to 12 guests? Book the wine cellar at Sette Luna and dine in a cool, stone walled, private room reminiscent of the tasting room at your favorite winery in Tuscany. Work with the restaurant’s private party coordinator and enjoy access to the reserved wine list that’s exclusive to the room (including some vintages that can’t be found elsewhere). Enter the cellar via the private staircase in the dining room.
Free Mimosas
On Sunday, Griddle 145 gives each of its brunchers a free mimosa to accompany their meal (Nutella Fella Pancakes anyone?).
A Sight to Be Seen
The Fogelsville Quarry becomes a temporary home to hundreds of Snow Geese during the month of March.
Gator Tacos
Yep, alligator. Only at Geakers Tacos in Bethlehem.
Fly Private
Picture a limo in the sky. LR Services Inc.’s fleet is based at LVIA and has a passenger capacity of seven to eight. Fly like a celebrity: All you have to do is tell them where, when and how long.
NYC Macarons
Imported weekly from the Big Apple, Easton Public Market’s Chocodiem serves fresh and colorful macarons from MacarOn Café, sold at $2.75 each.
Chef’s Table
Experience intimate dining at the Holiday Inn in Fogelsville. Behind a glass door off the lobby area, up to six people can enjoy privacy and top-notch service.
Photo by Donovan Roberts Witmer
No Sign
Venture to Mertztown to eat at Snuzzles Restaurant, dubbed “a pizza shop in the country.” They don’t advertise; in fact, the restaurant doesn’t even have a sign. Cash only.
Hidden Garden
A sculpture garden, known as the Outsider Art Enclave, exists deep in the woods considered part of Lehigh University’s campus. Unique and unconventional is the only way to describe the art that lives there.
Beer Delivery
At the beginning of last year, Lehigh Pizza became a beer delivery service. Their entire selection is up for grabs, as long as it’s within the 192-oz. limit. You must be prepared to pay with credit card before the beer leaves the premises, and expect a small delivery fee.
Chugga Chugga
The Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Train Museum is home to one of the largest train displays in the state; it’s a must-see for railroad enthusiasts.
BYOB
The State Café is BYOB, but they have orange juice, to create your own mimosa, and Bloody Mary mix available. Just ask your server!
Get Tropical
Pretend you’re on vacation at Tequila House Fiesta Olé in Whitehall. They’ll serve your Piña Colada in a fresh, Insta-worthy pineapple.
Numbered Seats
At Alburtis Tavern, all of the seats at the bar are numbered. When a train passes the restaurant, the staff spins a wheel and the person sitting at that numbered seat gets a free drink!
Life-size Jenga
Play this supersized favorite at Rivals Sports Bar & Restaurant, Easton, or at the newly reopened Pig Pen Fun Bar, Allentown.
A Hidden Menu
Goosey Gander Caterer & Deli in Bethlehem has a secret menu of sandwiches with hilarious names like Strugglebus, Wooly Mammoth, Pink Monkey and more. You’ll have to figure out the rest yourself.
Booze at the Theatre
Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas in the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks serves beer, wine and spirits to enjoy during the movie.
Private Dining
At the Easton Public Market, they’ll close off the walls and can accommodate eight to 12 people at the chef’s table. See how the menu is prepared and ask the chef questions throughout the evening.
Clambake
On Wednesday, drive over the bridge to Alpha, NJ. For $28.99, Sharky’s special includes a one-and-a-quarter-pound lobster, a one-pound snow crab, one dozen steamers, a quarter-pound of steamed shrimp and corn on the cob.
Photo by Elaine Zelker
Penthouse Suite
For $450 a night, you can enjoy this chic 1,100-square-foot suite and wraparound balcony at the Renaissance Hotel in Allentown. You’ll be in famous company, as everyone from Elton John to Bryan Cranston has stayed here.
A Real-Life Castle
The Fonthill Castle in Doylestown was designed by and home to Henry Chapman Mercer, archaeologist, anthropologist, ceramist, scholar and antiquarian. This permanent exhibit is said to bring history to life.
Fairytale Library
A sight plucked straight from Princess Belle’s imagination, the Linderman Library at Lehigh University is no ordinary campus archive.
Watch the Sunset
You don’t have to play golf to enjoy the view at Olde Homestead Golf Course. The deck overlooks the greens and is the perfect spot to watch the sunset while enjoying a drink.
BSI Party Suite
Located right outside the Phantoms’ locker room, guests can throw the teammates high fives as they take the ice. The suite accommodates up to 49 patrons with a lounge area located in the “high five tunnel.”
Chef’s Tasting Menu
Tuesday through Thursday, let the chef pick your dinner at Bolete. He’ll send surprise courses during an extended dining experience that usually lasts three hours. Ask about adding wine pairings to each course as well. Meanwhile, the “Frugal Foodie” is available the first and last hour of dining Tuesday through Friday. It includes a $35 three-course prix fixe menu as well as half off wine bottles under $100.
Supper Club
The Honey Underground hosts seclusive, top-secret gatherings in homes and event spaces throughout the year. The menu is made on an individual basis and focuses on what’s local and seasonal.
Social Club
The social facility underneath Holy Family Club in Nazareth is home to a full-service bar, daily specials, a billiard table, dartboards and a bowling alley that local leagues use throughout the year.
Quoits
Anyone can walk in and play this favorite pastime at HiJinx Brewing Company. While there’s talk of expanding, the league currently meets every other Thursday night at 7 p.m., fall through spring.
All the Way Up
The Stabler Observation Tower is at the highest point of Lehigh University’s campus. It is surrounded on all sides by windows overlooking the Valley, and is host to many functions throughout the year.
Watercolor Class
Perfect your painting skills with Crinkle Studio at the Easton Public Market. Classes are scheduled throughout the year.
Photo by Alison Conklin
Whiskey Barrel
When you think The Hamilton Kitchen & Bar, you should think whiskey. They’ve created 11 of their own barrels with blends exclusive to the restaurant—meaning you won’t find them anywhere else. The bar was recently recognized for its large number of single barrel purchases. What’s more, they house 350 North American Whiskey variations, including every Pappy Van Winkle and WhistlePig that’s ever been produced. Don’t be surprised if you find them with something that’s been long discontinued as well. Their Old Fashioned is a bit of a hidden gem, too, as one sip has patrons calling in for the secret recipe.
Mug Clubs & More
Porter’s Pub
Ask your bartender to enroll you (for free) and they’ll keep track as you drink your way through their Brew Guide’s 60 beers. Once you do, they’ll award you with a mug that you can either store at the pub or take home as a souvenir.
Liberty Tavern
Drink all 200 beers off the tavern's list and receive a free mug.
Fegley’s Brew Works
Every year, Brew Works changes its mug design to ensure it’s a true collector’s item. The 22-ounce mug is individually numbered and housed behind the bar (at the Bethlehem and Allentown locations) for members to use on their visits, but you can take it home once the calendar year ends. Benefits include 25 percent off all retail purchases, the invitation to two Mug Club parties, a free birthday meal and a Mug Club Card that earns you discount rewards for spending.
Roosevelt’s 21st
Join the Amendment Club by drinking all 50 of their craft beers, and get 5 percent off for life as well as a free hoodie.
HiJinx Brewing Company
Get a laser-engraved Pranksters Club Mug. Enjoy special mug fill pricing, a 20 percent discount on merchandise, a birthday gift, advanced access to beer releases and ticketed brewery events and an annual Mug Club party. One mug fill per week more than pays for the annual membership fee of $100. Renew for $50.
Barley Creek Brewing Company
For an annual fee, take part in this loyalty program that lets you keep your mug above the main bar and earn points as you spend. Want more? Ask about the Grandfathered Mug Membership.
